Reminder from SPD: Rising Heat is a Danger to Children and Pets left in Vehicles

Captain Kaleb Moore with the Statesboro Police Department is reminding everyone about the dangers of leaving a child or a pet in a hot vehicle.

From the Press Release:

As summer approaches and temperatures climb, the Statesboro Police Department would like to remind the parents and pet owners in our community to please make sure you are not leaving your children or pets unattended in a hot vehicle. This is extremely dangerous and can also be considered a criminal act.

With temperatures well into the 90s already, it is important to remember a few facts about what that does to a vehicle while it sits in the sun. Here is some information from the Pediatrics article “Heat Stress from Enclosed Vehicles” regarding what happens to your vehicle while it sits, turned off, in the heat.

1. A car’s temperature will rise approximately 40 degrees in an hour even on a relatively cool 72 degree day.
2. Most of that temperature increase is within the first 30 minutes.
3. Cracking your windows doesn’t stop the heat from rising.
4. Cars can reach 120 degrees in a matter of minutes on a hot day.
5. Heatstroke can occur even when the car is left in the shade.
6. Leaving the air conditioning on and the car running doesn’t guarantee your child’s or pet’s safety.

The safest course of action is to either take your child or pet inside with you or leave them in someone’s care or at home while you are out and about.

Injuries and deaths associated with overheating from being left in a vehicle are 100 percent preventable, so again please do not leave your child or pet in the car while you are out.